The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it has registered about 231 million telecommunications devices across the country as it begins implementing a new verification system to block counterfeit, cloned and unapproved devices from accessing mobile networks.
The commission said the initiative would strengthen consumer protection, improve network quality and help track devices imported and sold in Nigeria.
The Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the NCC, Edoyemi Ogoh, disclosed this during a media briefing on the implementation of the Device Checker and Type Approval Compliance framework in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ogoh said devices already operating on Nigerian networks had been automatically captured, meaning existing subscribers would not need to register their phones again.
He added that previously connected devices, including those that might not meet current approval standards, would not be disconnected retrospectively.
“We are not blacklisting those that have come up before this,” he said, explaining that the decision was intended to protect consumers who bought devices before the verification system became available.
However, newly introduced devices must satisfy the commission’s verification requirements before gaining access to telecommunications networks.
According to Ogoh, the NCC is collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service, manufacturers, importers and dealers to ensure that devices are authenticated before entering the Nigerian market.
He said the framework would enable regulators to identify the importer, date of importation and quantity of devices, helping to curb the supply of counterfeit products.
The initiative follows the introduction of the Type Approval Business Rules in August 2024 and consultations with industry stakeholders.
Ogoh noted that Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 requires telecommunications equipment to obtain regulatory approval before being sold or used in Nigeria.
He explained that counterfeit devices could contribute to poor network quality because faulty equipment may interfere with telecommunications infrastructure and affect other subscribers connected to the same cell site.
He added that device-related problems were among several factors affecting network performance, alongside infrastructure challenges, insecurity and flooding.
For consumer verification, the NCC advised Nigerians to dial *315# or visit its Device Checker portal to confirm whether their phones, tablets, modems and other SIM-enabled devices had been approved.
Subscribers can retrieve their phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers by dialling *#06#.
Ogoh advised consumers who purchased unverified devices to contact their sellers for replacements, while unresolved complaints could be reported through the commission’s toll-free 315 helpline.
Addressing concerns about surveillance, he said the system was designed to verify device identification details and would not provide access to personal information stored on phones.
“It is not a surveillance tool and does not provide access to personal information stored on devices,” he said.
Earlier, the NCC’s Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, described the initiative as part of efforts to improve telecommunications safety, network quality and consumer protection.
The Head of Corporate Communications, Olasumbo Olawaiye, also urged journalists to sustain public awareness of the new framework and encourage Nigerians to use the available verification channels.